Businessman arrested, suspected of financing drug rings

BANGKOK: A Thai-Indian businessman was arrested yesterday morning (Mar 6) on suspicion of financing major local and transnational drug-trafficking networks, as associated raids were carried out on 30 premises nationwide, police said.

Harpreet Singh, 53, (second from left) speaks to the police during the raid on his home in Soi Sukhumvit 39 yesterday morning (Mar 6). He was arrested on suspicion of financing drug traffickers. Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya

Harpreet Singh, wanted in connection with the seizure of 400 kilograms of crystal meth (ya ice) and arrest of several suspects on July 28 last year, was apprehended at his home on Soi Sukhumvit 39 in Watthana district of Bangkok.

Police teams raided 30 locations nationwide yesterday morning, three of them directly linked to Harpreet, according to deputy police chief Chalermkiat Srivorakhan, who led the 5:30am arrest at the suspect’s home.

He said police had evidence that Harpreet was financing at least 12 drug suspects arrested previously.

Harpreet’s financial transactions showed he had transferred at least B3 million to businesses linked to these suspects.

The investigation was being expanded to include drug networks in Thailand and some neighbouring countries believed to have also been financed by Harpreet, Gen Chalermkiat said.

An eight-month investigation into Harpreet’s suspected connections with drug trafficking had produced evidence that he hid his alleged illegal activities behind businesses offering tailor-made suits, buildings for rent and money lending in the Sukhumvit area, Gen Chalermkiat said.

The suspect had not directly dealt in drugs, which explained why no drugs were found at his home during yesterday’s raid, he said.

Harpreet had denied the allegation of financing criminal activities, but police had solid evidence that he had transferred money to cover the cost of buying cars used in drug trafficking, Gen Chalermkiat said.

The evidence was presented to the court when police requested and obtained a warrant for his arrest, the deputy police chief said.

About B160mn worth of Harpreet’s assets were also seized for further investigation.